Widening proposed for congested FM 518

By Mark A. Quick

Updated
3:31 pm CDT, Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Rush hour on FM 518 in Pearland can mean clogged intersections and long waits at traffic lights for motorists. The Texas Department of Transportation has scheduled a May 14 meeting on a plan to add two lanes to the section between Texas 288 and Texas 35. less

Rush hour on FM 518 in Pearland can mean clogged intersections and long waits at traffic lights for motorists. The Texas Department of Transportation has scheduled a May 14 meeting on a plan to add two lanes to ... more

Photo: ÂKim Christensen, Photographer

Photo: ÂKim Christensen, Photographer

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Rush hour on FM 518 in Pearland can mean clogged intersections and long waits at traffic lights for motorists. The Texas Department of Transportation has scheduled a May 14 meeting on a plan to add two lanes to the section between Texas 288 and Texas 35. less

Rush hour on FM 518 in Pearland can mean clogged intersections and long waits at traffic lights for motorists. The Texas Department of Transportation has scheduled a May 14 meeting on a plan to add two lanes to ... more

Photo: ÂKim Christensen, Photographer

Widening proposed for congested FM 518

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The Texas Department of Transportation will conduct an open house May 14 to inform the public and draw input on a proposed $50 million project to widen six miles of FM 518 between Texas 288 and Texas 35.

"Traffic demands exceed capacity and there are crashes that occur at intersections," TxDOT spokesman Danny Perez said. "This project would increase capacity and enhance mobility to accommodate growth in the area."

Around 27,000 vehicles daily travel the targeted six-mile stretch of FM 518, which would be expanded by two lanes to six, he said.

Along with the high traffic volume has come accidents. In 2014, 287 crashes occurred on that part of the road, of which 70 involved injuries, according to TxDOT records. Four of the victims were categorized as receiving incapacitating injuries.

Two people died in 2013 in separate accidents on that stretch of the road. The segment had a total of 229 crashes that year with 66 involving injuries. Seven people were categorized as having incapacitating injuries.

That number of accidents is higher than the average on farm-to-market roads statewide. For 2014 the crash rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled on FM 518 between Texas 288 and Texas 35 was 477.18, compared with a statewide average of 381.25.

"This project is of great importance to the city of Pearland," Assistance City Manager Trent Epperson said.

More Information

Public meeting

What: Open house meeting by the Texas Department of Transportation on proposed widening of FM 518 between Texas 288 and Texas 35.

"Widening FM 518 east of (Texas 288) will address our most congested corridor, providing relief to the commuters as well as motorists traveling to and from the retail centers.

The public meeting being hosted by TxDOT is the beginning of a multiyear process to bring the project to construction."

The open house will be from 6-8 p.m. at Jamison Middle School, 2506 Woody Road. Officials from TxDOT and the city will attend to answer questions. Perez said the open house will include exhibits including schematics and maps.

"Three preliminary schematics will be on display with other environmental study boards. There will be information related to the project such as will communicate the need and scope," he said.

TxDOT is proposing to add one lane in each direction. Written comment forms will be provided at the meeting. Residents can also submit comments by email to hou-piowebmail@txdot.gov. No funding for the project has been established, Perez said. Once funding is secured, work on the project would begin, he said.

A statement on TXDOT's website states that the project would potentially require additional right of way, which would be determined during the design process.

The notice also states that, "The environmental review, consultation and other actions required by applicable federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by TXDOT."